The Maine State Data Center has compiled a report detailing the dramatic changes in Maine's households over the past few decades. These changes have profound implications for the way Maine people interact, live, and solve problems together. These also present an opportunity to create public policies that encourage denser, more efficient land-use planning. You can view the full report here.
The Maine Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission (CEFC) convened on October 26, 2009 to revise its April 2009 forecast. A follow-up meeting was held November 2, 2009 to provide additional details on the components of personal income. This report provides a summary of the Commission’s findings.
The Maine State Data Center has provided this online tool to make it easier for you to access economic and demographic data for Maine, including commonly requested data about population, demographics, housing, retail sales, and employment. This site will be continually updated as new data are released. You can access the tool from this link.
The State Planning Office answers your questions about tax reform.
In June, 2009 Governor Baldacci signed a tax reform bill (LD 1495) into law. The new law lowers the top income tax rate and reduces the tax burden on Maine residents by almost $55 million. Click here for more information.
September 14th, 2009 - Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, Maine - Thomas Merrill, Economist, presented a snapshot of Maine's coastal economy at a meeting with representatives from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) team as part of an evaluation of the Maine Coastal Program (MCP), whose mission involves protection of coastal resources and distribution of federal funds for projects that benefit Maine’s coastal communities.
April 1, 2010 is Census Day! The U.S. Census Bureau's decennial count of everyone living in the United States determines representation in Congress, boundaries for local legislative districts, and affects the distribution of $300 billion of federal funds each year.
For more information please visit SPO's Census 2010 website.
June 6th, 2009 - Salt Institute, Portland, Maine - Michael LeVert, State Economist, addresses trends and forces shaping the northeast labor market, changes brought by recession, and increased level of skills needed to succeed in today's economy.
Each year since 1998, the Maine State Planning Office has reported on the subject of poverty in Maine. The 2009 report (PDF 1MB) contains indicators updated through December 2007. Released March 2009.
LD 1 Report Shows Tax Burden Reduction
SPO’s annual progress report shows that for the fourth year in a row the growth rate of property taxes was lower than before LD 1 went into effect. State, county, and municipalities have stayed within their spending caps, but there is a trend of continued spending beyond school caps. Click here to read previous LD1 reports.
The 30 & 1000 Progress Report is updating the 30&1000 analysis and
set new benchmarks for the percentage of 4-year degrees and R&D expenditures per employed worker that would be needed today for Maine to reach the current national average per capita income. Clickhere to read previous 30 & 1000 progress reports.
In 2001, large numbers of Somali immigrants began moving to theLewiston/Auburn area. While some came directly to Lewiston from Somalia, many others came from large cities in the United States. They came to Maine for the same reasons that many people move here: the quality of life and strong family values that make the state a good place to raise a family. The Lewiston/Auburn community has experienced some growing pains while taking in this new population. Employment has been one of the key issues. Lewiston Migrant Report (PDF 310KB) Released April 2008.
In its 2006 report “Charting Maine’s Future: An Action Plan for Promoting Sustainable Prosperity and Quality Places,” the Brookings Institution asserts that Maine’s quality places are scarce and valuable assets in today’s economy. At the request of the Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place, staff at the State Planning Office investigated the intellectual underpinnings of that claim. They also considered why and how Maine might consider “Quality of Place” as a new framework for economic development. This paper summarizes their findings and conclusions.
"Place and Prosperity" (PDF 180K) Released June 2007.
Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place website
Money from millions of annual tourist ripples throughout Maine’s economy, generating jobs, income, and tax revenue. Learn more about the importance of tourism to the Maine economy.
